Shareholders in ITV will get a one-off cash boost of £156 million after
Britain’s biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster posted a 6 per cent
jump in full-year profits.

The company will pay a special dividend of 4p per share after pre-tax profits
rose to £348 million, driven by growth in revenues from its production
studios, online and interactive services.

The broadcaster behind Downton Abbey, Coronation Street and The
X-Factor said it had continued to reduce its dependence on the
struggling advertising market, with non-advertising revenues rising by 12
per cent to £1 billion.